Cv for Interviews

Posts Tagged ‘Job Hunting’

Job Hunting Tips

Are you a fresh graduate and planning to look for a job? Did you just recently quit your job and are looking for greener pastures? Are you unemployed and have little experience regarding ways to secure a job? Whatever your situation may be, it would be to your advantage to

study the following tips:

Check your resume for mistakes Before submitting your resume to a recruitment consultants, check your it for corrections at least three times before handing it over. After researching about the job position, it is critical that you format your resume to match the needs of the company. For example, if you are applying for an accounting job, you should put in detail your accounting experience on your resume. Typographical and grammatical errors are serious no-no’s. It is also ideal to keep the length of the resume’ to at least a page and a half long. Taking the interview challenge

A survey conducted by a staffing and consulting firm based in California which corresponded with 1,400 chief financial officers concluded that candidates for employment made most of their mistakes on their interviews. Some of the mistakes they made include:

Arriving late
Having little knowledge about the company
Having little knowledge about the position applied for
Having a superiority complex
Behaving arrogantly

The body language of the applicant must also denote that he isconfident yet not overpowering. He must maintain eye contact, have a strong handshake, and avoid looking defensive by the act of crossing the arms. Wearing the right clothes is crucial for projecting a confident stance. As they say, it is better to go to an interview over-dressed than being under-dressed.

Answer questions smartly

A common mistake of interviewees is that they tend to get tense and forget the questions that are given to them, which has the effect that they are not prepared for the interview. It is important to research the company and the position applied for to prevent being side-tracked during the interview. If you do not know the answer to the questions being asked, it is better to admit you don’t know the answer to the
question and add that you can research about it. Look for the skills or expertise that the company is looking for so that when interview day comes and the interviewer asks about your strengths and core competencies, you will be able to match it to what they need.

Getting the necessary referrals

Having a referral from one of the company employees can go a long way toward landing an interview. A typical company may receive job applications in the hundreds and usually 35% to 60% of all job vacancies are filled by referrals. The odds of getting hired when you have a referral are very high if you have another 200 to 500 applicants vying for the same position. If you do not know anyone from the company that may give you a referral, it is a good idea to network the alumni of your college or university, trade groups, social networks, and professional associations. Remember, having a referral greatly increases your chances of getting the position.

The initial step is to look at local newspapers for this provides information just by looking at the Classified Ads section and the lists of
wanted personnel and employment opportunities will be read. Applying at several companies initially in a local area can save an
applicant more time and money. If it so happens that a job was found late in the day, call immediately for inquiries and never let a day pass
when opportunities arise.

How to look for jobs that are not announced?
Sometimes companies and other employers do not really advertise any job openings in their organization. The best thing for an applicant is to
weigh things if it will be possible to be hired by a certain company by just submitting an application form or resume. Start looking for the
job personally. Tell everyone about your job hunting. Relatives and previous offices or company co-workers will be able to give hints on
job vacancies in their current companies. Professors or teachers will also be helpful in recommending schools and institutions that are now
looking for new instructors. These people might not have any vacant position in their company in mind but they certainly know someone
who knows or needs a new employee. That is what others call networking.

Often times, the Yellow Pages does the important job of providing information on how and where to call to look for a job. This gives an
accurate list of companies and prospective employers in a chosen area. Visiting the library is also a tool than can be useful when looking
for a job. There are libraries that have a list of local employers, just asks the librarian for more information.
Contact these employers personally, even if they did not advertise any vacant positions that needed to be filled

Lastly, be observant of signs posted on doors and windows of shops and stalls being passed by. If lucky, just walk in and ask for
information about the job and how to apply. After submitting application forms and resumes to the respective
companies, keep track of the progress by creating a chart where you can jot down the name of the company and when the application was submitted.

In todays unpredictable economy, the idea of job security with any company would seem to be a thing of
the past. Large company layoffs, golden handshakes, mergers, leveraged buyouts, company acquisitions
and similar business moves have left people of all ages out of a job.
While there may be some compensation upon being let go from the firm you work for, this money wont
last forever. Or, if eligible for unemployment benefits, this also has a finite period of time attached to the
check. Sooner or later, job hunting will be necessary.

But its not only the individuals who have been turned out of jobs whom this booklet can help. How happy
are you in the business youre in? Do you long to do something else with your career? If so, youre not
alone. You have plenty of company in wanting to change your goals and focus in life.
Perhaps youve just turned 40 and realize that youre into the second half of a working career youve never
really liked. Studies have shown that working in a job because you have to, not because you like it, can
have some effect on an individuals life span. Why take years off your life when you dont have to?
The problem for most people in these situations is that theyre not sure where to start. Theyve either been
tossed into this situation unexpectedly and are trying to make decisions on the run, or they know that they
at least have a paycheck, so they postpone thinking about trying to focus in on a job hunt for something
they truly like to do.

Well, cheer up! This booklet will help you refocus, identify the skills you have, narrow down the type of
work you like to do and give you a number of outlets to gather information from in prospects of landing
that job that will carry you contentedly into your retirement years. The best news is that this doesnt have
to be a long, drawnout process. You can label your transferable skills and acquire helpful data within a
few days! Its not a year or two effort were talking about.
The secret is knowing where to look, what to ask and how to narrow down the type of job youd not only
enjoy, but be pretty good at, too! So much of this is understanding what makes you tick! Who better to
identify this than you? This booklet will give you some pointers in doing it, but it will be up to you to take
the time to really analyze what it is you like and want to do. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will
give you the power to change your life!

The major purpose of Resume/CV is to get you to the interview rooms. Therefore, for jobs seekers this is the step that requires great deal of care and holds vital significance in the whole process of Job Hunting.

Now I have listed down some key mistakes to avoid so that your Resume/CV could give you better results the next time you send it.

1- Avoid Grammatical Mistakes:

At times this has been observed and has been sated by the employers that one of the most negative that could go against any candidate is having grammatical errors in their Resume/CV. Thus, preventive measure should be taken. Before taking a printout for final submission whole document should be carefully corrected for any grammatical mistakes.

2- One Resume/CV will do:

Another turn off for the employers has been that the Resume/CV which they have received has nothing to do with the job opportunity. What the Job Seekers do is that they take many printouts of one CV and send it to all the employers. What the employers actually are looking for is a specific CV which has been created for them only. So substantial care if required.

3- Lack of Details:

At times irrelevant information is provided and relevant information seems to be missing from the Resume/CV. Therefore, we need to make sure that the key information will remain present there. Remain to the point and not to mention irrelevant details. However, do list about your accomplishment in a story form.

4- Incorrect Contact Information:

Another thing that needs attention is that you should not provide incorrect information in the resume. As this process usually entails getting in touch with you. But, if the information is not as correct that it should be then it will again fail to full fill its purpose.

5- Consultation:

Before sending your resumes do get it checked by some individuals. It’s always a good idea to get your Resume/ CV checked by some expert. They will provide you professional feedback and might also recommend you for something better in future.

So, these are the major mistakes which you need to avoid and by doing so you will be increasing the probability of letting the Resume/CV attain its objective.

How To Survive A Bad Performance Review (And Move To Your Dream Career)

Q. I wasnt happy with my last performance review. Should I dispute the review? Write a letter for my file? Talk to a lawyer? Or just let it go?

A. Most professionals feel you should offer some kind of response. But whether to respond, and the way to respond, will depend on your companys culture, the unwritten message and your own career goals.

1. Assess your report in light of the companys culture.

In some cultures, anything but glowing praise will be viewed as negative. In others, tough reviews are the norm.

Often your boss will be expected to come up with at least one point of constructive criticism. After all, nobody walks on water. But if youre being attacked or unfairly criticized, you must explore further.

Sometimes youll win more points by taking the review in stride than by fighting. But in some cultures, a single negative review means you need to start job-hunting right away.

2. Calculate your bosss strategy.

Sometimes your performance report has nothing to do with you or your performance. Your boss might honestly want to see you leave the company or make sure the next promotion goes to someone else.

Your boss may be a new hire who is still learning your companys culture. She may combine good intentions with weak implementation.

Or maybe your boss wants to get your attention: hes dropped hints and youve ignored them. Or he wants to help you progress but doesnt know how to communicate tactfully.

3. Listen for unwritten messages.

Does your company have a category where a low score means youre headed for disaster? Does your boss try to tell you, Its a great review! when you know otherwise?

Suppose youve been getting terrific reviews and now you get slammed with a truckload of criticism. Maybe you really did have a bad year. Or maybe theres an agenda you need to understand.

4. Get the facts without getting defensive.

Ask your boss to explain each criticism.

For example, if your boss said your project was delivered late, get dates and times. If youre criticized for interpersonal skills, ask for specific instances.

But give your boss a chance to save face.

Anyone can make mistakes. An overworked, harried boss can skimp on her own data collection. You can say, without confrontation, My records show I managed six projects, not four. Can we go over this point?

5. Delay your response.

Ask for a second meeting, explaining calmly that you need time to think. Use the time to collect your backup file. Consider a consultation with an outsider: career coach, consultant, human resources professor even a lawyer if the situation warrants.

Do not discuss your report or your decision to seek help with your peers. Ever.

6. Back up a rebuttal with facts, not emotion.

Assemble your own evidence of performance. Collect letters of appreciation, dates and times of project completion, statistics showing how you helped the company.

Often simply placing a rebuttal letter in your own file will defuse the impact of a negative evaluation. When youve had a strong track record, your company will ignore an occasional negative, unless someone has introduced a new agenda.

Your boss may be ordered to grade on the curve, i.e., assign some employees the low category even if everyones doing great. And, being human, he may assign those ratings to those who are least likely to speak up. A strong, carefully written rebuttal will clarify your strength of purpose.

7. Avoid jumping to conclusions or to a new job.

When clients ask, Should I look for a new job? my answer will be, When you work for any organization, keep yourself marketable. Maintain your network. Identify reputable recruiters and build ties with them.

Its rarely a good idea to share your career change plans with your colleagues or boss until you have a written offer in hand. And its rarely a good idea to accept a counter-offer from your present company. (Over half of all workers who accept a counter-offer are gone within six months, one way or another.)

But if your company wants to send a Go Away! message, they may be happy to give you a good reference that reflects your real contribution.

After listing all your skills and all the things that you do well, you may
now decide what field or career you want to take a crack at. Select the
skills contained from your list and partner it with the employment you
are seeking. Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to
the job that you are aspiring for. Don’t be bothered if you have to cut
out some of the skills from your list. It is also important to include in
the list your skills that the prospective employer will probably value.

Stand by what you write
You should be realistic about your skills and the level of expertise that
you have with it. For example, if you indicate that you are a very
organized person, then you should be able to show this to the
interviewer by being able to organize your thoughts and effectively use
the time that was given for your interview.
It is important to know your skills every time you are job hunting.
Always put your best foot forward and good luck!

Have you got what it takes to secure an executive role? Job hunting is stressful. Just spending time looking for appropriate jobs in the paper or on the internet is frustrating and you know that when you find one or two executive appointments that you want to apply for, you will be up against a lot of competition.

Standing out from the crowd is important at every stage of the process. From your CV to your final interview, you want to be the candidate that impresses. Whether this is your first executive position, or you are a seasoned senior manager, you still need to make your application and interview different enough to secure the job.

If youre dealing with an executive recruitment agency, there are three key areas where you need to be on top of your game in order to increase your chances of success:

1. On the Phone

Often, your first direct contact with a recruitment firm is on the phone. A telephone interview is a real test of your skills, because you cant use eye contact of body language to reinforce what youre saying; you have to rely on being prepared, focused and flexible so that you create a great impression.

2. Your CV

The key here is to focus on your achievements and experience, making everything you put on your CV directly relevant to the position. The internet is awash with information on how to make your CV more presentable, but there are some key points to remember:

Keep it short
Keep it relevant
Put your contact details at the top
Focus on things you’ve achieved, rather than your skills

3. Your interview

The interview for an executive appointment either as a preliminary with the recruitment agent or a first or second interview with the company is your best opportunity to show that you will be an asset to the business. Self-confidence is important, but not to the point where it could be viewed as arrogance. Use positive language and positive body language, give examples to show how you have achieved results in your current position and ask intelligent questions. Make sure you have researched the company well before your interview and double-check the requirements of the job.

The executive appointments market is a competitive one, and following these steps could increase your chances of success.